Children who can benefit from the Namaste program typically experience multiple problems at home, at school, and in the community. These problems can include:

• Lack of emotional bonds with family and peers.
• Problems adjusting to home, neighborhood, or school.
• History of running away from home.
• Resistance to adult care.
• Lack of respect for the rights of others.
• Impaired communication skills.
• Physically and verbally aggressive behavior.
• Long-standing childhood depression.
• Inability to take responsibility for their actions.
• Diagnosed as SED, SEBD, or NBD.

Namaste is licensed to provide services to children ages 0-17. Whenever therapeutically indicated, we request and support the participation of biological or adoptive families in the treatment process.

Upon acceptance, each child is assessed to determine his/her individual needs. The Namaste Treatment Team conducts an extensive multi-disciplinary assessment. This enables us to provide a customized, comprehensive treatment plan. The plan is monitored continuously and reassessed at least every 28 days. Our approach and close interaction with the child ensures a strategy that returns the child home as quickly as possible. We are dedicated to helping family members adjust to the child's ongoing healing process. We assist them in incorporating the child's new skills into their home.

To ensure a positive outcome for TFC, the Namaste Admissions Director assesses the child's need for services. Then, those needs are matched with Treatment Foster Parents (TFP) who have the skills and family structure to best support the child. A Home Study Assessment of the TFP is available to the Legal Guardian for his/her participation in the matching process. A series of visits, including a 72 hour Pre-Placement Visit, take place with the child and the TFP. The Legal Guardian, the child, and the TFP all have to agree to the match. The attachment bond starts as a healing tool from the moment the child and the family meet.

Parents Profile

Namaste's TFPs are chosen from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. They can be couples or single parents. TFPs must be people who love children and are dedicated to healing children and their families through the development of trusting relationships. Namaste TFPs are interviewed by Namaste staff. TFPs participate in an extensive process to assess their character and to ensure their safety in working with children prior to licensure and contact with any child. TFPs have to maintain good physical and emotional health, and Namaste is committed to supporting their personal and professional growth. Namaste is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution.

Training

Each parent must complete 45 hours of preservice training. Topics covered include, but are not limited to:

• Attachment Theory and interventions
• Love & Logic
• Stages of Treatment
• Cultural Considerations and Sensitivity
• Issues of Grief and Loss
• Child and Adolescent Development
• Medication Information and Documentation
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and Prevention
• CPR and First Aid

Each parent must also complete 24 hours of continuing education annually as well as stay in compliance with certifications and Home Study requirements in order to maintain licensure.

Namaste is an Attachment-Based program. We build attachments with children who have trouble trusting others. We tell our children, “We will keep you safe,” and “We will take good care of you.” We have just three rules:

1. Ask for everything you want and need.
2. Ask to be out of eyesight.
3. Ask to touch or be touched.

We have two expectations:

1. Be respectful
2. Be responsible

These rules and expectations are building blocks of each child's current and future relationships. Using just a few rules allows us to individualize each child's treatment program.

Childcare workers who implement this approach are the heart of the program. They teach the children to accept limits, discipline, and control as nurturing care. Problem behaviors improve when children form trusting relationships and are taught new behaviors. In time they learn to transfer this trust to their families. Milieu therapy is supported by weekly individual psychotherapy and other expressive therapy techniques. Family therapy is designed to meet the personal needs of each family. Families also receive extensive training in attachment interventions that help the child and family experience success at home.

To balance the intense experiences of treatment and therapy, we help children learn to feel good and to have fun. From planned events (like hiking or sports) to spontaneous events (a water balloon fight), we put a strong emphasis on the gratifying aspects of play and fun.